35mm f/2 IS USM - an updated 35mm for the 21st century.

This lens replaced my 'original' non-IS 35mm.  It was a good lens, but the loud AF, crude MF, and optical quirks made me want for something better.

This new lens is much larger, but does not feel the slightest bit big or heavy on a 6D.  It feels rock solid and looks fantastic.  The front element is HUGE.

AF is fast and precise - there was more noise than I expected (compared to an STM lens), but nothing to worry about.

MF plays over a long range, with a stiff (but precise) ring that feels closer to a true MF lens.  Very usable, and this will be great for video.

IS works well (as expected from a brand new Canon lens), this is the cherry on the sundae if you will.  Instead of the normal 1/30 second floor (using the 1/focal length rule), you can go 2, 3, even 4 stops slower if you are careful.  Brace yourself, and if you are steady, you can get usable pictures at a 1/4 to 1/2 second!

Optics are better than the non-IS 35mm.  I shot a picture of a map (filling the entire frame of a 6D) at f/2, and the entire frame was sharp!  The non-IS 35mm was terribly soft in the same test.  I understand this is not a practical test, but the point is, this lens can easily give you usable data corner to corner on a 20MP (and higher for sure) FF sensor.  Color, contrast, and the general 'look' of the lens is very good.  Nothing to complain about.  Anything lacking is my lack of skill.

Downsides?  Vignetting can be shocking when the lens is wide open.  Easily corrected in post-processing, but considering the massive size of the lens elements, and engineering on a brand new lens, I expected a bit more.  Stopped down to f/4 or more, no issues.

On a FF body, 35mm is still a 'standard' focal length, but gives you a bit of drama as you need to get closer to your subject.  On an APS-C body, you have a true 'standard' lens that will perform very well.

Overall, this is a wonderful lens.  I will not miss my non-IS 35mm, and I feel the upgrade was worth every penny.

I just received my 35 IS today and love it  I agree 100% with OP on this lens. Some reviews said it was silent, its not.  its about the same as most other USM lenses.  The IS on the other hand is silent. FWI its worth the old Canon EW 73B hood will fit the 35 IS not real tight, but it fits. Same hood for the 17-85 and 18-135 stm.

The 35 IS  at f2 is about the same sharpness as the 18-35 at 35/f2 but the 18-35 is bit sharper at 4.5 and both are sharper then the 18-135 stm at 35 but not by a lot at least at lens center, in corners there is a very LARGE difference.

Dave

Nice lens , Good sharpness,  share my f2 shot.

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lots of folks are coming to this conclusion that I came to over a year ago and posted about and met resistance.

Totomo Yap wrote:

Nice lens , Good sharpness, share my f2 shot.

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nice, you can tell, you are, indeed, a photographer

here is one of mine on T4i at f2 ss 1/40 - gets a dxo mark 14 MPix

I have owned one for about 6 months and it has been my favorite lens so far... And I just added an EF25 extension ring to give it 1.04x magnification...

IMO, this is an under rated lens...

ed rader wrote:

lots of folks are coming to this conclusion that I came to over a year ago and posted about and met resistance.

Yep, it took a while, and i think your posts, both here and over on POTN helped keep it in the public eye until it took off (and the price went down).

I know i was influenced by your posts on this lens

Im now on my 3rd copy since November, and each copy has been spot on as far as IQ goes.

I sent my second copy back purly to free up some funds to buy a new iPad, but 4 weeks without the lens was enough and ive now brought it again.

Its caused my 24-70 f/2.8 MKII to sit in my bag for most of the time ive had a 35mm.

How does IQ and sharpness compare to the cheaper 35 f/2, much cheaper 40 pancake, and more expensive Sigma 35 1.4 Art?